Last week, a national security law was passed in Hong Kong that threatens to make the once-autonomous city more like its cousins on the mainland. In 1997, control of the city passed back from Britain to China. At that time, the Chinese government promised that Hong Kong would be able to continue enjoying some freedoms that the mainland does not.
However, in recent years, many in Hong Kong feel their liberties are being eroded. This boiled over in late 2019, as pro-democracy protests rocked the city and made international headlines. The mainland sent in security forces, and China drew international condemnation for its handling of the situation.
Now, with the passage of the national security law, protesters say their voices are being silenced by the mainland. Notably, a vigil that was to be held in remembrance of the Tiananmen Square incident was canceled by Hong Kong police. Ostensibly, this was over concerns due to COVID-19.
Many pro-democracy advocates suspect this was, instead, at the request of Beijing.
Historically, the Tiananmen Square Incident refers to a series of student-led protests that lasted from April 15 to June 4, 1989. On June 4, the Chinese government opened fire on its own citizens, killing hundreds to thousands of protesters. Due to heavy government censorship of the facts of the incident, it is unknown how many protesters were actually killed.
Since 1990, Hong Kong has held a vigil for the victims of the massacre. 2020 marks the first year that the vigil has been canceled, some 31 years after the initial incident. While the police in Hong Kong insists the event has been canceled due to concerns over COVID, pro-democracy advocates in the city are skeptical.
Lee Cheuk-yan, who heads the alliance that organizes the vigil, rejects the authorities’ reasoning. “We believe this is totally unreasonable and unscientific, because everything is normal in Hong Kong. They are just using this excuse to suppress our rally”.
Many countries are still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, however. Some businesses in the US are relying on small business software solutions to keep afloat during this time.
Internationally, China is facing widespread scrutiny over its treatment of Hong Kong. UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab noted that China needed to not “cross the Rubicon” on Hong Kong.
In a statement on Tuesday, Raab said: “It can cross the Rubicon and violate the autonomy and the rights of the people of Hong Kong or it can step back, understand the widespread concern of the international community and live up to its responsibilities as a leading member of the international community.”
